ISLAMABAD: The information ministry on Sunday rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban that weapons were being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for “subversive activities”, terming the allegations “frivolous” and “baseless”.
“The Afghan Taliban regime’s claim that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for so-called ‘subversive activities’ is frivolous, baseless and contrary to established facts,” it said in a statement.
It said Afghanistan was already awash with “enormous quantities of sophisticated weapons and military equipment abandoned after the withdrawal of US and coalition forces (worth an estimated $7.2 billion), in addition to large stocks of Soviet-era weaponry accumulated over decades of conflict”.
“Attempts to manufacture a Pakistani connection to such weapons seem designed to divert international attention from the far more serious and documented concerns: terrorist groups continue to find space, facilitation and operational freedom on Afghan soil to plan, support and execute attacks inside Pakistan,” the ministry said.
It added that rather than resorting to “implausible accusations and blame-shifting”, the Afghan Taliban must address the “presence of terrorist sanctuaries on their territory and fulfil their repeated commitments that Afghan soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country”.
Separately, president’s spokesperson Murtaza Solangi accused the Afghan Taliban regime of hypocrisy and of providing sanctuaries to terrorist groups.
“Awash with billions of dollars worth leftover weapons by the allied forces five years ago, in addition to the Soviet era weaponry, running weapon black market in the region for decades, besides narco trade and providing sanctuaries to a cocktail of terror groups running terror actions in the region, the medieval beasts have the nerve to accuse Pakistan who is providing security to the world at large today,” he said on X.
Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2026